Category Archives: foodborne outbreak

USA – Shigella outbreak climbs to 32 cases linked to Seattle restaurant

Outbreak News Today

Shigella - kswfoodworld

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In a follow-up on the outbreak of Shigellosis associated with Tamarind Tree Restaurant in Seattle, Public Health – Seattle & King County now reports 32 people reported becoming ill after eating food at the restaurant in mid-January.

Ten of the 32 people who became ill tested positive for Shigella. Six cases have confirmatory testing indicating Shigella sonnei, a species of Shigella. Symptoms among those who did not get tested are suggestive of a Shigella infection.

At this time, no employees have tested positive for Shigella.

Investigators closed the restaurant during their visit on January 24, 2023. The restaurant was required to complete a thorough cleaning and disinfection. On February 7, Environmental Health investigators revisited the restaurant to confirm proper cleaning and disinfection, and the restaurant reopened that day.

Research – Foodborne Diseases in the Edible Insect Industry in Europe—New Challenges and Old Problems

MDPI

Abstract

Insects play a key role in European agroecosystems. Insects provide important ecosystem services and make a significant contribution to the food chain, sustainable agriculture, the farm-to-fork (F2F) strategy, and the European Green Deal. Edible insects are regarded as a sustainable alternative to livestock, but their microbiological safety for consumers has not yet been fully clarified. The aim of this article is to describe the role of edible insects in the F2F approach, to discuss the latest veterinary guidelines concerning consumption of insect-based foods, and to analyze the biological, chemical, and physical hazards associated with edible insect farming and processing. Five groups of biological risk factors, ten groups of chemical risk factors, and thirteen groups of physical risks factors have been identified and divided into sub-groups. The presented risk maps can facilitate identification of potential threats, such as foodborne pathogens in various insect species and insect-based foods. Ensuring safety of insect-based foods, including effective control of foodborne diseases, will be a significant milestone on the path to maintaining a sustainable food chain in line with the F2F strategy and EU policies. Edible insects constitute a new category of farmed animals and a novel link in the food chain, but their production poses the same problems and challenges that are encountered in conventional livestock rearing and meat production.

Spain – Stop undercooked tortillas, over 100 poisoned by Salmonella

Breaking Latest News

Poisoned by tortillas cooked the traditional way, so with the egg still half raw and oozing from the pan. This is the fate of over 100 people after eating the typical Iberian dish at Casa Dani, a Madrid institution specializing in the famous egg and potato omelettes. There were 13 people who even needed hospitalization, while one of the symbolic places of the Spanish capital has decided to close its doors until the end of the health inspections. The tortilla, together with the calamari bocadillos (sandwiches) and the cod croquettes, represent one of the typical dishes to be enjoyed on the street or in the crowded clubs in the centre.

France – Countrywide multi-serotype outbreak of Salmonella Bovismorbificans ST142 and monophasic Salmonella Typhimurium ST34 associated with dried pork sausages in France, September 2020* to January 2021

Sante Publique

The French National Reference Centre for Escherichia coli, Shigella and Salmonella (FNRC-ESS) detected two human clusters of 33 cases (median age: 10years; 17 females) infected by Salmonella enterica serotype Bovismorbificans, ST142, HC5_243255 (EnteroBase HierCC cgMLST scheme) in September-November 2020 and of 11 cases (median age: 11years; seven males) infected by S.enterica serotype 4,12:i:-, ST34, HC5_198125 in October-December 2020.

Epidemiological investigations conducted by Santé publique France linked these outbreaks to the consumption of dried pork sausages from the same manufacturer. S.Bovismorbificans and S.?4,12:i:- were isolated by the National Reference Laboratory from different food samples, but both strains were identified in a single food sample only by qPCR.

Three recalls and withdrawals of dried pork products were issued by the French general directorate of food of the French ministry for agriculture and food in November 2020, affecting eight supermarket chains. A notification on the European Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed and a European urgent enquiry on the Epidemic Intelligence Information System for Food and Waterborne Diseases and Zoonoses (EPIS-FWD) were launched. No cases were reported outside France. Outbreaks caused by multiple serotypes of Salmonella may go undetected by protocols in standard procedures in microbiology laboratories.

USA – FDA Core Investigation Table Updates

FDA

Date
Posted
Reference
#
Pathogen
or
Cause of
Illness
Product(s)
Linked to
Illnesses

(if any)
Total
Case
Count
Investigation
Status
12/28/2022 1137 Salmonella
Typhimurium
Alfalfa Sprouts See
Outbreak
Advisory
Active
11/9/2022 1127 Listeria
monocytogenes
Enoki
Mushrooms
See
Outbreak
Advisory
Active

USA – J.M. Smucker LLC – FDA Warning Letter

FDA

January 24, 2023

WARNING LETTER 638042

Dear Mr. Smucker:

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services Food Safety Branch (CHFS-FSB) jointly inspected your manufacturing facility located at 767 Winchester Road, Lexington, KY 40505-3728 from May 19, 2022, through June 9, 2022. The inspection was initiated as part of a multistate foodborne outbreak investigation of Salmonella Senftenberg (S. Senftenberg) illnesses linked to your ready-to-eat (RTE) peanut butter. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 21 people from 17 states were infected with the outbreak strain of S. Senftenberg. On May 20, 2022, your firm recalled all peanut butter manufactured at this facility from October 1, 2021, to May 20, 2022, due to potential contamination with Salmonella.

CDC and FDA have determined, based upon the epidemiologic, laboratory, and traceback evidence, that peanut butter manufactured at your facility was the source of this multistate S. Senftenberg outbreak. Further, the evidence establishes that you introduced adulterated peanut butter into interstate commerce as prohibited by section 301(a) of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (the Act) [21 U.S.C. § 331(a)].

Lithuania – Three pathogens found in chicken linked to illnesses

Food Safety News

Three people have fallen sick in Lithuania after eating chicken contaminated with Salmonella, Listeria and Campylobacter.

The Kaunas Department of the State Food and Veterinary Service (VMVT Kaunas) received information from the National Public Health Center (NVSC) about three illnesses from chicken wings sold at a café.

Officials from VMVT Kaunas inspected the outlet and found several non-compliances including instances of cross-contamination, hygiene violations at the premises and by employees as well as improper waste management. Operations at the establishment were suspended.

As part of an investigation into the source of infection, VMVT inspectors took samples of surfaces, drinking water and chicken wings for microbiological analysis. Lab testing found Salmonella, Listeria monocytogenes and Campylobacter in the chicken.

Research – Listeria monocytogenes, Escherichia coli and Coagulase Positive Staphylococci in Cured Raw Milk Cheese from Alentejo Region, Portugal

MDPI

Listeria monocytogenesEscherichia coli and Coagulase Positive Staphylococci in Cured Raw Milk Cheese from Alentejo Region, Portugal

Abstract

Traditional cheeses are part of the Portuguese gastronomic identity, and raw milk of autochthonous species is a common primary ingredient. Here, we investigated the presence of Listeria monocytogenes, Coagulase Positive Staphylococci (CPS) and pathogenic Escherichia coli, as well as of indicator microorganisms (E. coli and other Listeria spp.) in 96 cured raw milk cheeses from the Alentejo region. Whole genome sequencing (WGS) of pathogenic E. coli and Listeria spp. as well as antimicrobial resistance (AMR) screening of E. coli isolates was also performed. L. monocytogenes, CPS > 10cfu/g and Extra intestinal E. coli were detected in 15.6%, 16.9% and 10.1% of the samples, respectively. Moreover, L. monocytogenes > 102 cfu/g and Staphylococcal enterotoxins were detected in 4.2% and 2.2% of the samples, respectively. AMR was observed in 27.3% of the E. coli isolates, six of which were multidrug resistant. WGS analysis unveiled clusters of high closely related isolates for both L. monocytogenes and L. innocua (often correlating with the cheese producer). This study can indicate poor hygiene practices during milk collection/preservation or during cheese-making procedures and handling, and highlights the need of more effective prevention and control measures and of multi-sectoral WGS data integration, in order to prevent and detect foodborne bacterial outbreaks.

Finland joins countries with travel-related Shigella cases

Food Safety News

Shigella - kswfoodworld

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Finland is the latest country to report Shigella infections in people returning from Cape Verde.

The Finnish Institute of Health and Welfare (THL) recorded eight patients with shigellosis in November and December 2022, with a history of travel to Cape Verde.

Based on typing, the strains in five of these cases match those found in other European countries. Almost all Shigella infections found in Finland originate from abroad.

During 2022, more travel-related shigellosis cases than usual were recorded in several European countries. Patients are linked by trips to Cape Verde.

Related cases have been reported by the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, France, Germany, Denmark, and Portugal.

Abu Dhabi shuts down cafeteria over food poisoning

Gulf News

Abu Dhabi: Abu Dhabi has ordered the temporary closure of the Arab Burger Cafeteria for food hygiene and safety breaches that have resulted in multiple cases of poisoning.

In a statement, the Abu Dhabi Agriculture and Food Safety Authority (Adafsa) said it had ordered the eatery in Musaffah to shut down after the poisoning cases were traced back to the individuals consuming contaminated grilled chicken meals from the restaurant. The chicken had been handled and prepared by the restaurant in an unsafe manner, which had resulted in salmonella contamination.

The Adafsa said the outlet will remain shut until it corrects unsafe practices and conditions.